<p>I've always wanted to teach math (high school level), but now I want to major in something else (I have a huge list of stuff.. engineering, bio, chem, maybe do a 6 year PharmD program) </p>
<p>My question is, is it possible for me to end up teaching math after these, if I do decide I want to? Do I have to go back to school for 4 years to do this??</p>
<p>Yes. Just make sure you’ve taken enough math. Engineering would obviously do it. One of the best math teachers I know was an engineer first, then decided to teach. You’ll need a teaching credential, but math is very much in demand, so you may be able to teach using a temporary certificate while you get the certification courses done at night.</p>
<p>What is required to teach different subjects depends on the state you want to teach in. You need to check the individual state laws.</p>
<p>In your state check the distribution required for the math credits. Usually about half can be lower level first/second year courses, but the others have to be third/fourth year courses. Some alternate route require a full 30 credits in the subject you’re going to teach.</p>
<p>In any event, you would not have to go back to school for four years to get enough math. You may have to take some additional courses down the road (in addition to education courses, too).</p>
<p>It’s a good idea to check with the state you want to teach in. </p>
<p>You are in luck in that nearly every state (all states?) need math and science teachers at the high school level. Here in Texas, at least in our local district, they will cover the costs for a person with a Bachelor’s degree in just about anything to do the one year program to become a state certified math or science teacher. Then when you do get hired, districts provide a stipend of between 1-2K. I believe they will also cover the costs for special education teachers. For other specialites, it’s about $800 for the program with no stipend once hired.</p>
<p>It seems to me you are in a great position to pursue another field while not closing the door on teaching high school math. Let me put in a little plug that high schoolers really need teachers who love math! Best of luck with whatever road you take.</p>
<p>You can teach at a community college, too. Many retired engineers teach all different levels of math, and no teaching certification is required although a master’s degree may or may not be required.</p>
<p>Here in New York, you have to major in something (like math) and then get certified to teach at the middle or high school level. You can’t major in education. The number of education classes needed here (and I believe some other states) is actually very small. You do have to do student teaching and such, but it’s not too onerous.</p>
<p>The question you should be asking is what restrictions would you have in teaching high school math if you should major in another subject. It is certainly possible to find a position teaching high school math under many scenarios. However, if you have your eye on a public school teaching job, say in a high paying desirable district, you might want to check out the requirements for a job teaching math there, and also check out what the teachers who actually have the jobs have in the way of credentials.</p>
<p>Here in NYC, there are a lot of exceptions out there for high school math teachers at this present time. However, to get the most plum assignments, you need to be certified to teach math which means an education degree in high school math. That does not mean you HAVE to have that to get a job teaching math, but when any job crunch occurs, those with the credentials closest to ideal will be the ones getting first crack at those jobs.</p>
<p>My sons’ private schools tend to have a lot of non certified teachers. Those teachers tended to major in certain subjects but not take education courses. It’s no big deal in the private school system here. However, when you are looking at the high pay position in some of the desirable public school districts, it’s a different story. You need the i’s dotted and the t’s crossed. We lose many teachers from our private schools to these positions once they get their certification. Their pay often nearly doubles and their retirement benefits are much better. Many of our teachers are waiting for such a public school offer… On the other hand, there are public schools in the city itself that are begging for teachers because the environment is not pleasant there.</p>
<p>In Pennsylvania, in addition to meeting basic certification requirements, you would effectively need to meet the standards for a Highly Qualified Teacher in math. You could do that by having majored in math in college, by getting a master’s degree in math, or by passing a PRAXIS II Content test.</p>
<p>Good point about private schools. Here in Maryland private school teachers do not need certification.</p>
<p>As other poster’s said… You need to look at the school or certifying organization to answer this. In Florida you do not have to have a degree in math to be a math teacher. There are multiple ways to receive the certification, to include passing certification tests, having a minimum number of math courses, etc…</p>
<p>What is required, and what the most competitive jobs are able to ask for, can be different things. Even if certification is not REQUIRED, if jobs are scarce in certain desirable areas, and that is what you want, you had better have the quailifications that those teachers in those jobs have to have the best shot or any shot at a position there.</p>
<p>Where we lived in the midwest, if you really had a goal to become a high school teacher, and wanted to get the best pay scale, benefits and a good school district, to give yourself the best chance, going to some of the former state teachers’ colleges was your best bet. Most of the public school high school teachers in those districts went to those schools. It was strikingly obvious. A degree and certificate from those schools would have more clout that a Harvard or MIT degree for one of those jobs. I knew ivy leaguers who could not get those jobs even with TeachAmerica and other job experience and an outstanding grounding in the actual subjects. That education training was held highly, and there was a strong alumni network in hiring from those schools.</p>
<p>My husband has a BA in Economics from Stanford. He then went on to get an MBA from UCLA. He worked for a year as an accountant and decided it wasn’t the career for him. He then went to San Jose State University to get a teaching credential in a single subject–Math. He was fortunate to get a Life credential before they stopped that in '85. He’s taught high school math for close to 30 years. So, no it wasn’t his original plan.</p>
<p>Please do this only if you are strong in math and enthusiatic about math.</p>
<p>In Massachusetts, a person with a BA/BS can get a temporary teaching certification by taking two exams–a literacy exam and one in a subject area. Passing the exam allows you to teach for a number of years and then follow up with various combinations of education courses and/or teaching internships to get a permanent certification.</p>
<p>My son graduated last May with a BA in economics. Something like 10-12 undergrad credits (math, stats) counted towards the 30 he needs for a math endorsement to teach HS. He is just finishing up a calc II class and comp sci class this semester at the cc and will take 3 more over the summer. He has been accepted to a local university teaching/masters program for the fall and will be finished next summer. Meanwhile he has been substitute teaching all year and it is looking hopeful that he will be teaching full time in the fall with a provisional teaching license. His first move was to meet with someone at the university to go over his transcript and discuss how to proceed. They gave him the list of the required math classes he needed to be accepted to their program and even suggested taking some of the courses at the cc to save money. It sounds like you have probably taken many of the required math courses already and might find that it will be easier than you think.</p>
<p>“Here in New York, you have to major in something (like math) and then get certified to teach at the middle or high school level. You can’t major in education.”</p>
<p>That’s not entirely true Zoosermom. Many of the SUNYs offer programs through their Education departments designed to prepare their graduates for teaching in NYS’s secondary schools. One can earn a degree in, for example, Mathematics Education. To get an idea of what courses are required see here: </p>
<p>[The</a> Division of Education at the State University of New York College at Oneonta](<a href=“Home | SUNY Oneonta”>Home | SUNY Oneonta)</p>
<p>I think it is true that many school districts are now seeking candidates who have a stronger foundation in their core academic discipline. Many of the secondary school teachers who have been hired in our district, for instance, in recent years have had their BA/BS in a traditional academic subject and their Masters in education.</p>
<p>In California, one can become a high school math teacher (in a public school), by passing 3 math tests and going through the typical teacher training. If you have a strong aptitude for math, took some higher level math classes in college, and are not too many years away from college graduation, this should be very possible to accomplish.</p>